EV 635A used in Vietnam and into the 1980s: externally a bit of surface rust, but otherwise solid. The problem is the internal foam pad solidified to dust. Bear's Gone Fission has commented elsewhere that the pad is "crucial to the tuning" in omni dynamics, so I guess my question is should I make sure I get an actual EV replacement pad, and has anyone here had luck finding that sort of thing?

Any other advice or comments on putting a 40 year old mic back into service are most welcome.

For instance: I've got the original Neutrik cable. What's your favorite method for cleaning out the oxidized sockets?

[First post to this board, btw; Hello, everyone.]

First thing I would try is contacting EV directly...who knows - ask em nicely and they might rebuild it to as 1960s new, or at the very least replace the foam.

As for cabling....can't say. Perhaps experiment with Naval Jelly (not the belly button kind... )...I've had some luck with just taking a standard #2 pencil, and rubbing off the oxidation...there's enough grit in pencil lead to remove small amounts of oxidation, yet its not abrasive enough to cause any damage....

And yes, when done, use the eraser to remove the pencil markings....but then follow up with a clean lint free towel and/or compressed air to remove the eraser leavings...(no, I'm not making this up...) This technique works wonders for anything that needs to make a clean electrical connection.

thanks, wireline.